one80news Ltd, 4 Steine Street, Brighton, BN2 1TE. Tel:
08706 201 360 Email: info@one80news.com. one80news
Ltd is owned by Marble Media Publishing Ltd. Directors:
Graeme Austin & Tony V. Registered office: 4 Steine St,
Brighton BN2 1TE. Registered in England, number:
6811093. VAT Registration number pending. Publication
of the name or the photograph of any person or organisation in articles or advertising in one80news should not be
construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of
such person or organisation. Individual views expressed
in one80news Ltd do not necessarily reflect those of Marble Media Publishing Ltd. All material in one80news Ltd is
copyrighted. No part of this publication may be reproduced
without the prior consent of the publisher in writing.

Message from the Publisher

Tony V
These boots are made for walking
SUMMERTIME IN THE UK
means travelling time for us, as
we head cross-country to support
as many gay Pride events as we
can possibly handle. Coming from
Australia, one has the impression
that the UK is small; it is. But this
is the beauty of it… there are so
many Pride festivals in such a
small land. Forty years on from
the Stonewall Riots in New York
that started it all, the desire to get
out there, party and be proud has
spread to the corners of England,
Wales, Scotland and Northern
Ireland and is helping heterosex-

ual communities understand and
accept their LGBT neighbours.
One80news is proud to be a part
of these events. Congratulations
to everyone who is putting on an
event this year – you should be
proud of yourselves.
On another note, we’ve just
heard that the Rose and Crown
in Greenwich is hosting the fourth
annual Drag Race on Friday 14
August, featuring more than 30
drag queen and kings racing
around the town in high heels.
It’s going to be quite a spectacle.
See you there.

Gay bars hit by Soho fire
THE FIRE THAT RIPPED through a historic
building in Soho’s Dean Street on Friday 3
July is said to be costing gay businesses thousands of pounds of lost revenue.
The fire, which almost completely destroyed
a film company’s offices in the road, was just
yards from Old Compton Street - the gay centre of Soho.
Large areas of Soho were shut down on
Friday evening, costing bars and restaurants
significant amounts in lost profits.
At the time of going to press Dean Street
was still closed to traffic, causing major disruption to delivery services and transport in
and out of Soho.
The fire caused the evacuation of around 50
people but no-one was injured.
A fire brigade spokesman said an investigation into the cause of the fire was underway
and it was too early to ascertain what caused
it, but early reports indicate a faulty air conditioning unit may be to blame.
Builders are working to try and make the remains of the building secure and reopen Dean
Street to traffic.

Potter’s ‘gay’ Bruno film
upbringing
banned
HARRY POTTER STAR
DANIEL Radcliffe is telling interviewers that it’s
“good to keep people
guessing” when they ask
if he’s gay.
Responding to internet
chatroom rumours that
constantly question his
sexuality,
19-year-old
Radcliffe admitted that
people often presume he
is gay.
“I grew up around gay
people my entire life,
basically, that’s possibly
why I’m quite camp, and
some people think I’m gay
when I meet them, which
I think is awesome,” he
says. “It’s always good to
keep them guessing. I don’t go on any blogs or chats or anything,
but my friends are demons for them, and apparently someone
said ‘Daniel Radcliffe is gay. He’s got a gay face!”
Radcliffe went on to say that he thinks it’s wonderful that Harry
Potter character Dumbledore was outed by author J K Rowling
as gay, and that he thinks Rowling probably did it to “fuck of the
right wing.”

THE UKRAINE
HAS BECOME
THE first country
to ban the movie
Bruno.
The Ukranian
ministry of culture says that it is
banning the film,
which
features
spoof
Austrian
gay fashion journalist Bruno as
he travels around
America,
because it includes,
“artistically unjustified exhibition
of sexual organs
and sexual relations,
homosexual acts in a
blatantly graphic
form,
obscene
language, sadism, anti-social behaviour which could damage the
moral upbringing of our citizens.”
A Ukranian spokesperson says that although homosexuality is
legal in the Ukraine, attitudes are still very conservative.

www.marblemediapublishing.com

Page 3

fe\/'e\nj
Corrie’s new
gay bar launch
‘Extravagant’ set built for new gay plot

THE HUGELY POPULAR primetime ITV
soap opera Coronation Street is getting
its first gay club.
Corrie executives have given the goahead to build a brand new set from
scratch to include the inside of a gay venue as part of an ongoing storyline.
According to reports, the “extravagant” set
will be used to follow gay character Sean,
played by Anthony Cotton, who falls for a
new gay character at his local gym.
“We usually use the bars on Canal
Street for our gay club scenes because
they have been so good to us over the
years,” a spokesperson said. “But this storyline is going to last for a long time so it made sense for us to build
our own place rather than be on location for weeks on end.”

The plotline will focus on Sean as he
falls for bodybuilder Leon, and decides to
make him see how desirable he is by lying that he used to date his gym partner
Jason (Ryan Thomas), who is actually
straight. Jason remains blissfully unaware
of Sean’s deceit, even when Leon starts
chatting to him.
As the story progresses, Sean ends up
taking Jason to the gay club and entering
him in a contest to find Mr. Weatherfield
- which he wins.
Although Jason is initially angry, he
ends up wondering whether to continue
in the competition when he realises a
cash prize is up for grabs.
The club is set to appear later this summer.

Blue star ‘bisexual’
Duncan James, of boyband Blue, has come out as bisexual.
The handsome singer told the News of the World that he has
sex with both men and women – and has had relationships with
men in the past.
“I’m not ashamed,” he said. “I met a guy [in 2001]. He was my
friend at first but we took the friendship to the next level. Up until
that point I’d never had those feelings towards a guy before. But
this person came into my life and put a spanner in the works. I
definitely loved him.”
James (above) has been in high-profile relationships with
women in the past few years, including Geri Halliwell and Martine McCutcheon, and has a daughter by ex Claire Granger.
And as Blue begin a comeback tour, he says the other boys in
the band are fine with his sexuality.

Photo from Girls on Top at Revenge by Carl Hobden
BTN Listings July 09 indd 1

24/6/09 14:14:00

Page 4

www.marblemediapublishing.com

fe\/'Y`k\j
Norton axed

CAMP FUNNYMAN GRAHAM NORTONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S
BBC1 TV show is being axed.
According to the Sun newspaper, the Totally
Saturday showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s viewing figures have fallen from
more than 4 million in June to 2.5 million in July.
BBC bosses say they are keen to continue
working with Norton, calling him a â&#x20AC;&#x153;fantastic
hostâ&#x20AC;?.
But Radio 1â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chris Moyles attacked the show,
branding it â&#x20AC;&#x153;appallingâ&#x20AC;?.

New skool
SCHOOLS ARE TO BE provided with fresh guidance on how to deal with homophobic bullying.
The Schools secretary, Ed Balls, says new ideas about how to effectively tackle anti-gay jibes
â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which he says are reaching â&#x20AC;&#x153;epidemicâ&#x20AC;? levels in
playgrounds â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are vital to protect children.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Homophobic bullying creates an ugly climate
of intimidation and can make it harder for young
people to come out,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual or heterosexual
young people, our guidance makes clear that
such bullying should be challenged.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Growing up can be challenging enough for
young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual
or transgender. Being bullied and discriminated
against at school as well can make life miserable
and sometimes fearful, too.â&#x20AC;?

Gay rape claim
A TEENAGE BOY ON trial for beating a gay man
to death is claiming that he only did it to protect
himself from rape.
Mossab Belhocine, 19, of Forest Road,
Walthamstow, admits punching and kicking David Cooper, 28, but denies murder.
The two met in Soho last year and went home
together to Cooperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s London home.
Belhocine told the court: â&#x20AC;&#x153;He came and sat next
to me on the sofa and put his hand on my leg
and started moving it up and down and moved it
to my penis area â&#x20AC;Ś I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want it to happen. He
came on top of me and was trying to kiss me.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was punching him anywhere and trying to
fight him off.â&#x20AC;?
Belhocine allegedly then stole credit cards and
electrical items from the flat as Copper lay unconscious.
The trial continues.

Payout awarded
TWO LESBIANS WHO SUFFERED anti-gay
abuse from work colleagues have won more
than ÂŁ20,000 in compensation.
Beth Moules and Sharleen Amos, a couple that
both worked as saleswomen at a westcountrybased water company, claimed unfair dismissal
following comments from their workmates.
In one such incident, the coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boss,
Stephen Baker-Joy, had told them to stop complaining because â&#x20AC;&#x153;lesbians had never and would
never suffer in the way that Jews hadâ&#x20AC;?.

Pride cancelled

Dr Who v Dr Ali
]
]
Pink Festival 2008 ÂŠ Twinkleboi

%#E$

E E
]

E (E
]
E%

E
E(
]

KingsArmsBrighton.co.uk
'( 6
6$#

GAY ACTOR AND SINGER John Barrowman is
publicly attacking the Bishop of Rochester, Dr
Michael Nazir-Ali, over anti-gay comments he
made in a national newspaper.
Barrowman says Dr Nazir-Aliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s views, which
call on gay people to â&#x20AC;&#x153;repent and be changedâ&#x20AC;?
are â&#x20AC;&#x153;rubbishâ&#x20AC;?.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the actions of Jesus Christ supposed
to be about compassion and love and
understanding?â&#x20AC;? said
Barrowman.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;And
here you have a man
who is supposed to be
teaching that and he is
teaching bigotry.â&#x20AC;?
He went on to suggest that more gay
men would go to
church if they werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
faced by continuing
bigotry.

A GAY PRIDE FESTIVAL in Cambridge has
been cancelled due to financial problems.
The Pink Festival, described as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a gay Pride,
family day outâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; was expecting more than 15,000
people to attend this August.
But in a statement, organisers admitted the festival had not secured enough funding and sponsorship, and blamed the credit crunch.
They hope next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event will go ahead as
planned.

Birds wanted
DESPERATE ZOO
KEEPERS IN Edinburgh are seeking
female penguins to
prevent more male
birds from having
sex with each other.
Workers at Edinburgh Zoo say they blame a shortage of female
birds is forcing the male penguins to form relationships with each other.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have sometimes tried to physically mate with
each other - not very successfully,â&#x20AC;? head penguin
keeper Roslin Talbot told the Scottish Daily Record.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we had four male king penguins and four female
king penguins, this wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be happening.â&#x20AC;?

www.marblemediapublishing.com

Page 5

fe\/'e\njJflk_:fXjk
one80home news

Sex workers wanted
for new research
TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST (THT) is launching a survey aimed at establishing the health
and support needs of male and transgender
sex workers.
The research, which is being run by THT
Brighton, Soho Boyz in London and The Blue
Room in Manchester, will help THT assess the
support services it provides to male and transgender sex workers in the region.
“We’re launching this survey because we
want to get a clearer picture of some of the
key issues that male and transgender sex
workers face, and whether local services are
meeting their needs,” says Mark Cull, Health
Promotion Coordinator at Terrence Higgins
Trust in Brighton. “This survey is vital because it will help us develop and target our
services and we really need both male and
transgender sex workers to get involved. If
you’ve sold sex within the last 12 months, or
perhaps exchanged sex for somewhere to
stay or for drugs or alcohol, please take the

time to fill the questionnaire in – it’ll only take
a few minutes and the information you’ll give
us is invaluable.”
This is the first year that the survey has
been carried out and it’s hoped that it will get
a huge response. The survey can be completed at THT’s centre in Ship Street, Brighton. Anyone who takes part will be offered a
£10 retail voucher.
There will also be an opportunity for people to take part in the survey at Pride on
August 1st. Soho Boyz will have a stall at
Preston Park from where people can take
part. The surveys can be completed until
mid September.
The survey includes questions about accessing sexual health services, HIV testing as well
as questions on drug and alcohol use, housing
and other issues.
To take part in the survey and to find out about
the services that THT offers contact Mark Cull on
01273 764223 or email mark.cull@tht.org.uk

Skydive success!

SOME MAY HAVE THOUGHT the idea plane
stupid, others suggested drink may be clouding
their judgement, but Ray and David, landlords
of Southampton’s The London Hotel, knew it
wasn’t pie in the sky as they took off on a jet
plane, knowing they wouldn’t be coming back
to terra firma in the same plane, but jumping
out of it at 12,000 feet.
All in the name of charity, of course. Why else
would two generally sane men risk life and limb
by hurling their bodies into the sky?
Luckily, the big man in the sky was looking
favourably upon our two brave boys and they
landed back to earth safely n Sunday 12 July
to raise a whopping £4,150.
The Sunday evening at The London Hotel

was dedicated to a post-dive party, with Lady
James performing to capacity crowd. A cheque
was presented to the Countess Mountbatten
Hospice on the night. Later in the evening, another cheque came out, this time for from the
Diamonds are Forever fundraising evening
(which took place earlier in the year) in memory of Lee Driscoll, for an amazing £7,500. Raymond and David of The London said “we are
in awe of the generosity people have shown in
donations over these two evenings, and would
like to thank everyone who took part, so much.”
You can watch a video of the skydive online,
visit www.watchmyskydive.com and type in
the name of the person you’d like to watch.
www.the-london.co.uk

Family Funday: a statement from Bourne Free
THE ORGANISERS OF BOURNE Free –
Bournemouth’s Pride festival – have been forced
to issue an official statement following reports
that families are ‘fuming’ after the event.
After heavy rain poured down on Saturday 11
July, the main day of the three-day festival, organisers took the bull by the horns and decided
to move Sunday’s outdoor ‘Family Funday’ from
the Lower Gardens in the town to The Branksome Pub.
Families keen to join in the celebrations were
apparently left out of the event - which aimed to
be ‘inclusive’ as possible – because The Branksome does not allow under-18s into the venue.
“The Bourne Free Pride Festival Committee
deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to
those families that came to the Bournemouth
Gardens for a Family Funday on Sunday,” said
a Bourne Free spokesperson. “The decision to
cancel the event in the Gardens was made late
on Saturday after an evening of heavy rain ….
We feared that the Gardens would be too water
soaked and muddy to offer a pleasant occasion.
“We were unable to find an indoor familyfriendly venue at such short notice but were able
to reschedule the planned bingo with drag artist

Miss Jason to a local pub in The Triangle. Unfortunately the notices for the Gardens were inadvertently misprinted leading many families to assume that the pub was open for a family event.
“We are especially sad to have disappointed so
many children, especially those of LGBT families who are often overlooked.”
Bourne Free says it is looking into providing a replacement family-oriented day in the near future.

www.marblemediapublishing.com

Page 7

fe\/'interview
A Moment in June

A Moment in June
O Nathapon’s debut feature is currently doing the rounds of the
international ﬁlm festivals. Peter Burton caught up with the ﬁrsttime director after a screening in Brighton.

O Nathapon

“Every year, C4 promoted seven new directors. I
applied and was selected. They gave me a script
called Raising Baby Rio to direct. It’s the story of
a young black father who has to rescue his baby
from his drug addict mother. It’s a subject I’m not
at all familiar with, but that’s what I wanted to do.
I told my producer that I wanted to get away from
anything that I was familiar with…”
A Moment in June is a sombre but intensely romantic film set between Bangkok and Chiang Mai
and there are echoes of classic films.
“One third of A Moment in June was inspired by
David Lean’s Brief Encounter,” O admits. “It’s my
most favourite film of all time.
“My script for A Moment in June is slightly complicated. There are three mains stories – one set
in 1972 and the other two set in 1999 – that intertwine and at the end, hopefully, the audience will
understand why it had to be told and that was and
come to one conclusion about all these six characters who are all connected in one way or another. It
is romantic. I hope so. I think it is….”
One of three narrative threads involves Pakorn,
a theatre director and his photographer love Peon.
Theirs is troubled relationship and at the beginning
of the film they are separating for a month to consider if they have a future together.
“Yes, there’s one gay couple of the film. So you
could say that one third of the film has a gay subject,” O pauses for a moment. “But A Moment in
June shouldn’t be pigeon-holed as a gay-themed
film because it’s not dealing with a ‘how difficult it is
to be gay’ premise. The two characters just are gay.
However, having said that, it is a film about two gay
people struggling to be in love with one another.
Basically, it’s the story of two people who are in
love who just happen to be men … I wanted to tell
the story of a gay relationship showing it as equal
to that of any straight couple.”
What inspired the film?
“One third of the film is my own story – but I think
most first-time writers and directors would utilise
their own experience. One third, as I’ve said, was
inspired by Brief Encounter and the final third was
adapted from a play that I wrote when I was studying theatre direction. All three threads combined
into one central theme. Essentially A Moment
in June is all about second chance…”
The film has already garnered
praise at film festivals in Thailand,
Indonesia, Sweden and India.
The film travels on to festivals
in Italy and America. But in
the meantime, O is hoping for
distribution in the UK. “If anyone is interested, I’d be glad
to talk,” he interjects.
In the meantime, O is writing a new script (the action
takes place in England)
and directing music videos
for Sony (Thailand).
Where does he spend
most of hi time?
“In Kemp Town, Brighton…”
And where does he consider home?
“I go back and forward quite
a lot, but I hope to spend more
time in Brighton, writing…”

RAISING BABY RIO
By O Nathapon, will be shown on C4 on a date to be confirmed, later in the year.

registered charity
NUMBER 1107328 AND REGISTERED IN SCOTLAND (SC039857)

‘A MOMENT IN JUNE elegantly intertwines love
stories set in 1972 and 1999 with the staging of
a play deeply connected to both,’ Daily Variety
opined. ‘This ambitious pic marks a strong debut
for script-helmer O Nathapon, whose artful mix of
theatrical and cinematic techniques produces an
affecting study of love and separation.’
“I’m originally from Thailand,” twenty-nine year
old O explained, “but I moved to England when I
was fourteen. I went to Brighton College between
1994 and 1999 and then went to film school in Los
Angeles between 2000 and 2004. I came back to
do theatre studies in London in 2005 and I’ve been
working on A Moment in June since 2005.
“I wrote and directed and produced the film – the
latter is one job I don’t like – I’m not a very good
producer. But, yes, I wrote the film and directed it. It
is my first feature film, but I have made a short film
called Bicycles and Radios as part of my thesis for
the school in LA.”
O has also directed a short film for Channel 4’s
Coming Up season. Called Raising Baby Rio, it will
receive its world premiere at the Edinburgh Film
Festival and then be shown on C4 later in the year.

Page 8

www.marblemediapublishing.com

fe\/'essential arts & leisure
Gay Poet’s archive

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY IS
desperately trying to raise £125,000 in order to purchase the personal papers of a
gay writer who was one of the major poets
of the First World War.
Siegfried Sassoon (1886-1967) is one
of the most well known and accessible of

the First World War poets (Martin Taylor’s
Lads: Love Poetry of the trenches contains
fine examples). His experiences during that
bloody conflict instilled in him a fierce hatred of war which culminated in his issuing
his Soldier’s Declaration (The Times, 1917)
which caused a public furore because here
was a member of the officer class, a hero
(he had been awarded the Military Cross)
behaving in the manner of a conscientious
objector. He narrowly escaped court martial
and (possibly) a firing squad.
Aside from his poetry,
Sassoon was author of
a semi-fictional autobiography (Memoirs of a
Fox-Hunting Man, Memoirs of an Infantry officer,
Sherston’s Progress) and
three volumes of conventional autobiography (The
Old Country, the Weald
of youth, Siegfried’s Journey). Although he eventually married and fathered a
son, Sassoon was famously emotionally involved with
and an influence upon fellow First World War poet
Wilfred Owen and love
to the eccentric aesthete
Stephen Tennant.

The Siegfried Sassoon archive includes
forty-five notebooks, drafts of unpublished
poems and a substantial cache of letters
spanning more than half a century and was
kept in filing cabinets in the family home. The
death of Sassoon’s son George in 2006 has
provoked the sale and if Cambridge University Library cannot raise the required funds
then it is likely that the papers will be bought
by one of the wealthy American libraries or
universities – already home to a substantial
part of Britain’s gay a literary heritage.

The
Forbidden Broadway

Wilde shows
FIRST STAGED IN 1895, Oscar
Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest can withstand almost
anything. There have been musical version (Earnest in Love, The
Importance), it has been staged
en travesty (with Dr Evadne
Hinge and Dame Hilda Bracket),
it has been seen in an all-male
production (in Berlin) and it has
too frequently been seen with far
too ancient actresses playing that
greatest of stage dragons, Lady
Bracknell. Now, in a new production at the Open Air Theatre
in Regent’s Park, Wilde’s ‘trivial
comedy for serious people’ will
have to confront its greatest challenge – the British weather. Heading the cast of this revival are Susan Woolridge as Lady Bracknell
and Dominic Tighe as Algernon.
The Importance of Being Earnest runs at the Open Air theatre in Regent’s Park until 25 July.
Tickets: 0844 826 4242 or www.
openairtheatre.com. Also running
at the same venue is a revival of
Jerry Herman’s award-winning
musical Hello, Dolly! Samantha
Spire stars as the interfering and
irrepressible Dolly Levi and the
show runs until 12 September

The
Dorothy Squires Story

Come Into
the Garden
Maude

London

Henley-on-Thames

Brighton

GERARD ALESSANDRI SATIRICAL REVUE Forbidden Broadway originally opened at an Off-Broadway supper club in 1982. Written for a cast of two men and two women, the show has been regularly
up-dated and is still keeping New York theatregoers amused. Parodying decades of highly successful and often grotesquely overblown musicals, a version of the revue surfaced in London a decade
ago. Now a new edition of the show – sending up just about every hit musical currently playing in the
West End – has opened at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London SE1. Wickedly witty, outrageously
funny (Ana-Jane Casey is superlative as Nancy in Lionel Bart’s Oliver!, brutalised and bandaged
and singing a pastiche of ‘As Long as he Needs Me’ now revamped as ‘As Long as he Beats Me’)
Forbidden Broadway is a gloriously merciless. Everything from Chicago, Billy Elliot and Hairspray,
The Lion King and Mary Poppins is joyously spoofed. Other members of the small but energetic and
talented cast are Steven Kynman (a delicious Harry Potter striptease, clearly a reference to Daniel
Radcliffe’s appearance in Equus), Alasdair Harvey and Sophie-Louise Dann. Forbidden Broadway is
at the Menier Chocolate Factory; tickets: 0207 907 7060 or www.menierchocolatefactory.com

GERRI SMITH
FIRST
PERFORMED The
Dorothy Squires
Story (her one
woman
show
about the life of
the litigious gay
icon) in Edinburgh in 1998.
The play toured
in 1999 and
was revived last
year for runs at
the Hungerford
Theatre Festival
and the Grand
Theatre, Swansea. ‘A terrific
p e r fo r m a n c e ,’
The Stage said
of Ms Smith’s
portrayal
of
Squires.
‘She
captures
perfectly
the
throaty, lachrymose quality of
her vocal style.’
A reconstruction of the show
on 6 December 1970 for which Squires hires the London Palladium concludes the show, so there are plenty of the Welsh diva’s songs
– including her signature number ‘Say It With Flowers’. The
Dorothy Squires Story is a The Chambers, The Town Hall,
Henley-on-Thames from 23-25 July at 2pm and 6pm. www.
henleyfringefestival.co.uk

THE PENULTIMATE MUSICAL
EVENT of the third annual Clifton
Montpelier Powis Festival is an
entertainment devised by Roger
Brasier and Anthony Hawgood
as an introduction to some of the
more beautiful art songs and parlour ballads of the Victorian era.
Nothing if not camp, Come Into
the Garden Maude combines
verse and music to evoke a time
when to be gay was to be jolly and
nothing more and Oscar Wilde
was to be imprisoned for committing sexual offences. This highly
diverting event will be presented
at St Nicholas Church, Dyke
Road, on 19 July at 10:30am.
Tickets: Dome Box
Office 01273 709709 or www.
brightonticketshop.com or
on the door.

www.marblemediapublishing.com

Page 9

fe\/'interview

Sinister

Scott Brown

and erotic

Scott Brown’s title story for the anthology A Casualty of War grew out of his
experiences in Iraq where he recently spent eighteen months. He told Torsten
Højer about the background to the tale.
THIRTY-ONE YEAR OLD Scott Brown has a background in hospitality and public relations. He
is travel correspondent for 3SIXTY and a political and Middle Eastern correspondent for Homme
Arena Asia. Currently based in Dubai, he also specialises in short stories which are generally both
sinister and erotic and which are characterised by a healthy disregard for figures in authority.
In ‘Justice Armstrong-Jones’ (published in Bend Sinister) the authority figure is a High Court judge
willing to go to any lengths to ensure that his name is always in the public eye. ‘The Collection Box’
(published in Death Comes Easy) focuses on a charismatic but embezzling priest who finds a teenaged runaway too much of a temptation and in ‘Mysterious Ways’ (published in Serendipity) his
central figure is a high-powered football agent who enjoys a dalliance with the England captain just
before dying and being reing reincarnated as an un-neutered moggie.
Scott is now working on his first novel (a thoroughly nasty piece of work) and a new short story, but
was keen to talk about the genesis of his most recently published tale.
‘A Casualty of War’ provides a grim insight into the bleak world of combat in present-day Iraq.
Written as a first person account of a soldier reacting to conflict, it not only serves as a frightening
reminder of the horrors of America’s war on terror, but also explores the dilemas of duty, love and
(homo)sexuality in the most unforgiving of circumstances.
“I was in Baghdad for eighteen months during the conflict,” Scott says. “It is harsh, hostile and
people’s lives are pretty terrible. After living it, I had to write about it. The experiences in the story
are not diaries of what I experienced. 0f course, it’s complete fiction - but some of the detail is drawn
from reports and stories that I had access to.”
‘A Casualty of War’ begins with the beating and murder of an American soldier by compatriots
who believe him to be gay. The narrator claims he is ‘no fag hater’ but still particpates in the attack.
This is the first of many
brutal killings in a story
in which the violence and
sexual tension steadily
escalates.
“Gay sex happens much
more than people think it
does in the army,” Scott
continues. “All the guys
are away from home for a
year, they’re horny, hot and
sweaty... you can be gay in
the army, of course, but
you can’t say anything in
the US army. A lot of men
would say ‘I’m not gay, I’m
in the army’, but they still
have sex with men. That
was the mindset I was
coming from in the story.
They push their sexuality
aside to keep their jobs.
They’re determined and
passionate about serving
their country.”
A Casualty of War: The
Arcadia Book of Gay
Short Stories, the seventh such collection to
have been edited by Peter
Burton and the fourth to
be nominated for America’s prestigious Lambda
Literary Award, contains
stories by a wide range
of authors, including Neil
Bartlett, Sebastian Beaumont, Hugh Fleetwood,
Francis King, Steven
Saylor, Michael Wilcox
and Richard Zimler and is
available now.

A Casualty of War: The Arcadia Book of Gay Short Stories
is edited by Peter Burton and published by Arcadia Books at £7.99.

ALL THROUGH JULY, G-A-Y Bar Soho is celebrating the
appearance of dance diva duo Booty Luv, with a range
of fabulous cocktails to get you in the party mood. Take
your pick from Boogie Tonight, Shine, and Don’t Mess
With My Man, each is a different mix of mainline spirits
and fruity mixers. Listen out for any Booty Luv videos,
and get bargain prices on selected drinks.
www.g-a-y.co.uk

Work! at Area, Vauxhall
PATRICK LILLEY’S MIDWEEK urban clubnight has moved to
a brand new home. Now taking residence south of the river,
Work! will take place every Wednesday at Vauxhall’s infamous
Area nightclub, home of legendary afterhours Beyond. Expect
the latest and greatest urban anthems, bashment and UK funky,
dished out by the Work! residents, plus intense lighting and laser
shows from the Area lighting jocky. Work! was previously held at
Heaven.
www.areaclublondon.com

EVERY SUNDAY EVENING at Ku Bar Lisle Street, divalicious drag
superstar Lady Lloyd takes over supplying her choice selection
of chart hits and, well, generally being fabulous. Lady Lloyd’s
Hits Factory takes place from 8pm – midnight, a kind of gay tea
dance with the best pop tunes from the last few years, plus some
special anthems thrown in for good measure. Entry is free.
www.ku-bar.co.uk
Ku Bar

TAKING OVER THE multi-story building on Frith Street that used to
house Profile, Pendulum is a brand new concept: bar, restaurant
and art gallery combined. Promoter Patrick Lilley (Queer Nation)
intends to flaunt his love affair with all things American, by showcasing photographic displays of the legendary New York Vogue
Balls scene between 1993 and now. The restaurant will serve up
America’s foremost Southern cuisine, created and catered by Outsider Tart (www.outsidertart.com). Definitely worth a visit! Website
coming soon.
www.pendulumsoho.co.uk

The Yard, Soho
LOCATED IN CENTRAL Soho, close to many of the busiest bars,
The Yard is a hidden treasure accessible only via an unassuming entrance, which leads to the gorgeous courtyard and bar.
Once inside, you’ll also have access to the Loft Bar, complete
with smoker’s terrace and comfy sofas. DJs play on Thursdays,
Fridays and Saturdays, with music ranging from 70s and 80s to
funky house and club classics. Highly recommended.
www.yardbar.com
The Yard

Comptons, Soho
IN THE HEART OF Soho’s gay village, Compton’s is one of the hottest spots in which to warm up your weekend. DJs include Paul
Short every Friday, spinning funky and uplifting house, and Joe
Public (Love Muscle XXX) every Saturday. Bears Upstairs takes
place every Sunday, an ideal place to meet like-minded bears,
cubs and admirers.
www.comptonsbar.com
Comptons

Kazbar, Clapham

Village, Soho

IT’S NON-STOP PARTYING at Kazbar this month with resident DJs
Julius and Saint David playing fierce vocal house with the occasional camp classic thrown in for good measure, every weekend.
Of course it just wouldn’t be Kazbar without Nine to Five being
belted out at half past midnight on the Saturday.

IF YOU FANCY SOMETHING different for your Wednesday night,
check out the Pink Poodle Comedy Club each week at the Village, Soho. Billed as “London’s gayest comedy cabaret” you can
expect plenty of outrageous laughs from some of the best up and
coming talent, hand picked by Miss O. Tickets are £5, from 9pm.

Jonny Mon the Brighton scene
The Aquarium
NO FOOD IN the fridge? Don’t know what to cook for
dinner? Well fear not, as the Aquarium Theatre Bar has
launched the Fish Tank Café, serving food Thursday
– Sunday. The food is simple and very affordable, with
pub favourites such as Bangers & Mash (£4.50), Meatballs
(£4.95) and Club Sandwiches (£2.95) complemented by a
range of salads (£3.50 - £3.95). Food is served 4pm – 9pm
Thurs, Fri and Sat, and midday – 4pm on Sundays.
www.the-aquarium-theatre-bar.co.uk

Vavoom

The Kings Arms

RAISING MONEY FOR Brighton Pride is always a big priority at
this time of year, and the Vavoom team has come up with a great
way to do this: auction of your cutest bar boys! On Sat 25 July,
you can turn up at Vavoom pick out your favourite bar boy, and if
you bid the highest price and take him for a complimentary meal
at Strada. Everybody wins!
www.vavoom.co.uk

ONE OF THE latest additions to Brighton’s gay men’s pub scene,
The Kings Arms, continues to offer up great DJs each week playing different styles of music. Thursdays are Pop etc. with guest
DJs playing the latest and greatest pop tunes, Fridays are Booze
and Cruise with DJ Bozzey Bear playing 80’s, 90’s and 00’s music, and Saturdays are Bear Essentials with DJ Charlie spinning
funky house.
www.kingsarmsbrighton.co.uk
The Kings Arms

The Aquarium

Vavoom

Lesbian Sauna Party
ONE OF BRIGHTON’S favourite gay saunas will host a women
only sauna party on Sat 25 July, giving the girls of Brighton a
chance to play. The night is hosted by Voluptuous Events, who
will be taking over the Denmark Sauna in Hove from 8pm ‘til
late. Tickets don’t come cheap, priced at £35, but this includes
a meet and greet, use of the sun beds, locker and towel facilities, ice-breaking games and masseuse services for the first
five people in. Go girls!
www.denmarksauna.com

The Zone
The Bulldog
ON MON 20 July, the team at the Bulldog will celebrate the birthday of one of its regulars from 9pm. Malcolm’s birthday party will
feature DJ Marcia and his glitter ball, playing the best 70s and 80s
party songs. The event will be raising money for the Sussex Beacon through a raffle, with prizes including concert tickets and free
drinks. Happy birthday Malcolm!
www.bulldogbrighton.com

IT’S SO CLOSE to Pride! We can feel it in the air. And what
better way to celebrate, than to book one of the best-known
cabaret acts on the Brighton drag circuit, for a very special
debut performance? The act is none other than Dave Lynn,
the venue is the Zone, and the date is Fri 31 July at 9.30pm.
Other highlights include Sally Vate on Sat 18 July, and karaoke
every Sunday from 6.30pm.

Ghetto Brighton
YOU THOUGHT IT couldn’t get any more wacky that Lesbian Mud
Wrestling: but you were wrong! Because Brighton’s very own
Ghetto is going all out to raise money for Pride, hosting their first
ever Jelly Wrestling competition on Weds 29 July. It’ll be slippery,
sticky, messy, but most importantly fun, as teams of gay girls and
boys grapple with each other on the Ghetto dance floor, trying to
stay upright amongst all the jelly. The only question is, will there
be custard?
www.popstarz.org/ghettobrighton

R Bar
FRIDAY NIGHTS ARE jumping at one of Brighton’s most stylish bar
spaces, as a heady mix of great music, unthreatening gambling and
well-priced drinks ensures a busy venue each week. The idea is this:
every Friday at R Bar, order your round of drinks, toss a coin, and if
you win the coin toss, you walk away with the round again for free!
Simples.
www.revenge.co.uk

Ghetto Brighton

R-Bar

The Bulldog

112 Church Street
MANAGER COLIN CELEBRATES his birthday at Church Street on
Fri 24 July, with friends and customers invited to join the festivities.
Cabaret comes from local heroine Miss Jason, with other guest drag
acts to be confirmed. Expect hilarious antics, outrageous humour,
and a fun-packed roster of entertainment, carrying on ‘til 1am.
www.112churchstreet.co.uk

DAVID, RAY AND his team are always keen to book some of the
best cabaret around, and having enjoyed their parachute jump
and landed safely it’s back to business as usual. Highlights this
month include the following dates: Fri 24 is Mandy Gap, and
Sun 26 is Drag With No Name, Fri 31 July is the pre-Brighton
Pride Party with Lucinda Lashes, and Sat 1 Aug is Guilty Pleasures with Neil Sackley. You can watch David and Raymond’s
skyjump online, by visiting www.watchmyskydive.co.uk and entering their name.
www.the-london.co.uk
Mandy Gap

WHAT’S THE BEST way to counteract the heat and humidity of
the long, hot summer’s nights we’ve been enjoying? Well the
team at Southampton’s Edge club has got the answer, as the
annual Beach Party 2009 takes place on Fri 31 July and Sat 1
Aug, complete with a swimming pool in the garden in which you
can cool off. There’ll be plenty of boys and girls in their swim
wear (and maybe a few without) so this should be a very exciting party.
www.theedgesouthampton.com
The Edge, Southampton

The Old Vic, Portsmouth
Nicolette Street

THIS
AWARD-WINNING traditional gay
pub, at the heart of
Portsmouth’s
gay
scene, features regular entertainment and
a fab pub food menu.
Female vocalist Nicollette Street will perform
on Sat 25 July, and
winner of the Drag Idol
contest, Kevin Cruise,
performs at the pub on
Sun 26 July. Check the
website for all the latest line-ups!
www.oldvicportsmouth.
co.uk

Hampshire Boulevard, Portsmouth
AS ONE OF gay Portsmouth’s favourite cabaret venues, the
Hampshire Boulevard has to live up to high expectations. Fortunately, the wonderful Titti La Camp will be on hand, performing
on Fri 31 July. Titti had her first show at Camden’s Black Cap
back in 1993, and has been wowing audiences ever since. Past
glories have included performances at Pride events all over the
UK, and hosting the Drag Idol competition.
www.thehampshireboulevard.co.uk

Page 22

www.marblemediapublishing.com

fe\/'scene
Jonny Mon the South Coast scene
Bakers Arms, Bournemouth
EVERY THURSDAY AT Bournemouth’s Bakers Arms is cabaret
and bingo night with resident hostess Sheila Tackya. It’s bingo
with a twist: outrageous, camp, and most importantly, it’s fun!
The show starts at 8.30pm each week. Bournemouth Leather
Club meets on Fri 31 July at 9pm, and Kiss & Make Up (the transgender group) meets on Fri 7 Aug.
www.thebakersarms.com
The Bakers Arms

2930 The Triangle, Bournemouth
SATURDAY 25 JULY is Girls Only night at 2930 The Triangle,
as the ladies take over the basement with top DJs playing
commercial house. Boys, fear not though, as the upstairs
level is open as usual! Wednesday night is excellent value,
with DJ Ondrey K spinning the tunes and bargain prices on
all drinks.
www.2930thetriangleclub.com

Bar Beyond, Bournemouth
THE ‘NO CHEESE please’ music policy adopted by Bar Beyond has paid its dividend, as the bar remains busy many
nights of the week. Thursdays are open deck night, so any
budding DJs out there in Bournemouth can turn up and have
a spin on Bar Beyond’s top of the range CD decks. And the
prize? You could be one of the Bar Beyond resident DJs! But
remember that music policy though…

2930 The Triangle

www.barbeyondbournemouth.com

The Edge, Southampton

Bar Beyond, Bournemouth

The Xchange, Bournemouth
VETERAN OF THE cabaret circuit Miss Jason begins a new
weekly residency at The Xchange, kicking off at 10pm each
and every Thursday night. Miss Jason’s sharp tongue, quick
wit and great sense of humour have earned her legions of
fans across the UK, making this one weekly show you wont
want to miss. Xchange DJs keep the party rocking, playing
all things camp and cheesy.
www.xchangebar.co.uk

The Branksome, Bournemouth

Mini Bar, Bournemouth
JOHN AND HIS team at Mini Bar will be keeping the summer
party spirit alive after Bourne Free with a fabulous selection
of new vodka-based cocktails available throughout the day.
Also look out for themed weekends, new for August, including a fun-filled Hairspray weekend. Dates have yet to be confirmed as we went to press.
www.myminibar.co.uk
Mini Bar

A FAVOURITE AMONGST locals, the Branksome has entertainment on every night of the week! Sundays feature DJ
Pride from 8pm with guest cabaret at 10pm. Mondays are
‘karaoke queens’ from 9pm with Lucinda Lashes, Wednesdays feature local drag sensation Sally Vate, and Thursdays
are DJ Pride and Crystal Candyfloss’s Fairylea, an evening of
the utmost camp. On Friday Sally Vate cracks the weekend
open, and on Saturday nights you can party right through
‘til 3am with DJ Pride.
www.thebranksome.com

Circus, Bournemouth
ONE OF THE longest running clubnights in Bournemouth’s history did not disappoint, as hundreds of party people braved
the awful weather and continued to celebrate Bourne Free
2009 at Circus, well into Sunday morning. The atmosphere was
fantastic, as everyone was up for a party, and as for the venue?
Simply stunning. It’s just fantastic that a gay clubnight still puts
so much effort into their output, with aerial performers, drag
hosts, loads of make-up and fierce music from residents and
guest DJs alike. The next event takes place on Sun 30 Aug,
and we can’t wait!
www.myspace.com/bournemouthbolts
Circus, Bournemouth

The Branksome

Pink Sundays, Bournemouth
THE PATISSERIE ANGELIQUE is hosting Pink Sundays every week
from 2 – 5pm. Toby and Philippe invite you to enjoy a chilled out
afternoon with a cream tea, cake or milkshake on the sun terrace.
If you fancy something different to other options on the scene, this
is for you!
www.patisserieangelique.com

THE THIRTY-EIGHTH SPARTACUS International Gay Guide runs to around 1200 pages
(slightly less than 2008’s edition) and remains
the most comprehensive world guide for the gay
male tourist.
However, the gay traveller doesn’t find a ready
welcome wherever he ventures. ‘Despite the recent 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, torture is still a common
practice in over 81 countries worldwide and 83
countries continue to have national laws which
criminalise homosexuality - not a real reason to
celebrate, Briand Bedford, Chief Editor of the guide, writes in his Introduction. ‘It is also a fact that when money is tight, ideals such as human
rights take a subordinate role in many people’s lives.’
Obviously Spartacus has more detailed information on those destinations that are the most popular with gay visitors.
There are over one hundred pages devoted to Spain, for example,
twelve of which focus on the Balearics (notably Ibiza). The USA is contained in one-hundred¬and-fifty pages, a dozen of which concentrate
on NYC. The UK is allotted fifty pages. The Czech Republic is given
twelve pages, most of which are dedicated to Prague (presumably the
city’s popularity has as much to do with Bel Ami boys as it does the
Charles Bridge).
The substantial main text contains listings for countries from Albania
to Zimbabwe and appended to these is a brisk summary of a further 73
countries for which ‘there is no evident gay scene or there is an overwhelming hostility towards homosexuals’).
The Spartacus International Gay Guide is a perfect example of the
way in which tourist demands have caused guides to specialise. They
have come a long way since the beginnings of tourism in the early years
of the nineteenth century.

FOR HOLIDAYMAKERS WHO can’t
face lugging around the hefty Spartacus International Gay Guide, there are
many pocket¬sized guides to specific
destinations. The Out Traveller series,
for instance, concentrate on particular
areas of the United States.
The latest volumes dissect Hawaii
and New York City. Matthew Link points
out that Hawaii can be idyllic for those
looking for a beach holiday in a tropical setting but warns that it is not so
enticing for those looking for exciting
nightlife - there’s not much of it!
NYC is an entirely different matter. It is one of the world’s prime gay
destinations, boasting venues to suit
every taste as well as a cultural cornucopia, fine restaurants and fabulous shopping.
The Out Traveller books contain all
the usual information a traveller expects from a gay guide and
also has potted histories and brisk
biographies of relevant personalities.
It would be a good idea if all guides
in the series followed the same template (Hawaii has a bibliography,
New York doesn’t) - but that’s a minor
complaint.

IN THEIR METICULOUSLY researched and highly
entertaining The Smell of the Continent: The British
Discover Europe, Richard Mullen and James Munson take as the starting point of modern tourism
the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in IB15. They
contend that once the dictator was imprisoned on
St Helena, it was safe for the British to get off their
island and begin to discover (primarily) France, Italy
and Switzerland.
These travellers set out in carriages, carrying everything for their convenience and comfort as they
visited the guillotine in Paris and the battlefield of
Waterloo in Belgium. Some travelled in unimaginable style. The rampantly
bisexual Lord Byron’s carriage was ‘vast and elegant’ and featured a library
along with facilities for sleeping and dining.’
Many packed everything from curtains and carpets to kettles and caddies
of tea. And they complained.
So far as the British abroad were concerned, nothing that wasn’t from
home was good enough. They demanded comfort and, until the European
hoteliers provided it, they carried it with them.
The British didn’t like the accomodation (damp rooms, unaired sheets,
smells), didn’t like the food (especially the garlic), didn’t like the roads (rutted, haunted by bandits) and didn’t much care for the native. It was their
constant complaining that raised standards and improved everything to
such a degree that the British tourist became a kind of colonist.
Amongst those travellers were large numbers of men who were on the
road as ‘much for the gay sex to be found in the more tolerant South,
amongst them E M Forster with his ‘well-practised sneers at his compatriots’, ‘the exotic’ Augustus Hare, A E Housman and Oscar Wilde, visiting the
male brothels in Paris, Tchaikovsky and Thomas Mann.
But all this was to change once the First World War began in 1914, the
point at which this most enjoyable account concludes.

fe\/'TV
Emmerdale Weekdays, 7pm, ITV1
VIEWERS MOURNING THE DEPARTURE from Hollyoaks last autumn of hottie James Sutton need grieve no more.
The toothsome twenty-five-year-old who
won a horde of fans for his portrayal of gay
teen John-Paul McQueen in the Chesterset soap has recently made his debut in
the Yorkshire-based Emmerdale.
Sutton is playing Ryan, the unacknowledged son of smoothie Mark (Maxwell
Caulfield, best known for Grease 2), new
owner on Home Farm. The role enables
the young actor to fulfil an ambition about
which he told 3SIXTY last year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
wait to play a dark bastard of a character,â&#x20AC;?
he confided.
How did the role in Emmerdale come
about?
â&#x20AC;&#x153;My agent â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;phoned me and told me
there was a part coming up in Emmerdale,â&#x20AC;? Sutton explains. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was advertised
as a bit of a new bad boy character, so
I thought Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have a look at it because
it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t something Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d done for a long
time. I wanted to play someone who
wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all good.â&#x20AC;?
How would Sutton describe Ryan?
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drifted around recently. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been
working and recently got made redundant. Now heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unemployed, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s come
to see Faye, his mum, to find out whether
thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s any work up North.
Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll perhaps settle there if he can get

himself a job, but heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit of a nomad to
begin with. He doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know exactly what
he wants to do with his life, but heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a mechanic by trade. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very nice lad.â&#x20AC;?
Ryan is heavily featured in the episodes
running between 20-24 July. Sutton has
some strenuous stunts and highly dramatic scenes as he is trapped in the
wreckage of the Home Farm shop after
a runaway van has ploughed through the
faĂ§ade. And the tensions between Ryan
and the man is yet to discover is his father bode ill for the future. Then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a
developing friendship between Ryan and
Nathan, his devious half-brother (Lyndon
Ogbourne).
Sutton has enjoyed his first few weeks
of filming Emmerdale. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been brilliant,â&#x20AC;?
he enthuses. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone has been really
kind to me and showed me around. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve
been made to feel really at ease and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve
had some great scripts already.â&#x20AC;?
And how does Sutton think Ryan will
fit in with the current residents of the
rural community known as much for
raunch as animal husbandry?
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good-looking lad.â&#x20AC;? Sutton modestly declares. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So hopefully heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have
some interest from the local ladies.
Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quite a likeable guy, so I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think
thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anything which would warn the
other villagers off him â&#x20AC;Ś not to begin
with, anyway.â&#x20AC;?

THE
first PRIME
MINISTER
Streetever LGBT
bate to weigh receptionhas
on gay
used
into
Speaking
at Downing
the
marriage.
the
the
American
marriage,
to a
most
country, influential
gathering
able”
dedescribing
attacked Gordon
love”. and claiming
of
gay
He
it
a California
an “attempt
Brown peoplesome of
described “you as “unaccep
in the
been
can’t
n law sensation
done” to undo Propositiolegislatetcommunit
banning ally
the
backslidin y and warned
good n 8
gay
to
as
g. stay vigilant the that has
UK
against gay
Continued
any
on page
2

fe\/'community South Coast
It’s good nowadays, isn’t it? Wake up call
In the first of an occasional series, Roger Wheeler fulminates against the ridiculous rules of Health and Safety.
Many years ago I was working for a vast government department, drowning in a sea of
civil servants, who were neither particularly
civil nor servile; colleagues would often refer
to me as Victor. They thought that I sounded
like a gay version of the famous tv grump Victor Meldrew as I was constantly irritated and
annoyed. I didn’t initially recognise this but
soon realised that being well past my own
sell by date modern life was becoming more
and more annoying. I remember my dad
sounding exactly the same nearly fifty years
ago, so does every small thing become more
annoying as you get older? Probably.
It all stared when I met a colleague who

was to become my new best friend. Her
name is Elfin, formally known as Elfin Safety.
Her main aim in life is to protect you and me
from ourselves. She thinks, no she knows
that we do not have the sense that we were
born with and simply cannot be trusted or
allowed to undertake the simplest of tasks
without instructions, cautions, warnings,
safety goggles and protective clothing.
For decades we have been able to open
a window in a hotel or office, get on a train,
cross the road, even cruising, without being
constantly reminded that we are in serious
danger of life threatening injury.
I was planning an event at a major public
conference centre, Elfin insisted on a risk assessment being undertaken. Apart from being a ludicrous suggestion as this venue was
used by thousands of people every week
without the need for risk assessments, I
asked Elfin if, before she entered any shop or
cinema, did she send in her troops to check
that she would survive the experience.
The work place ‘experience’, how I hate
that now overused word, has become a
minefield of dangerous hazards with the
strong likelihood of one sustaining permanent injury unless you attend a course on,
say, using a chair. What was once just a chair
has become a serious threat to life and limb
unless instructed on how to use it in the correct manner

Today in virtually everything we do we are
warned to take great care or the lube may
jump out of the tube and cause permanent
damage, of course if you forget to use it
there could be consequences. If we don’t
carefully read every label on everything we
buy we are at serious risk of, for instance,
drinking the bleach thinking its gin. And the
dangers of opening the fridge - never mind
about boiling a kettle - are just too horrific to
contemplate.
I seriously question the need for this over
protectiveness; of course the reason for it all
lies with the Americans. That highly litigious
society where you sue, or as they would say,
issue a law suit, if you break a finger nail
when ripping open a condom.
There is money to be made from the most
innocent of errors, as we are told every day
by the ambulance chasing solicitors, sorry
law firms, that if something is not your fault
you can get substantial compensation.
I just think it’s about time that we took responsibility for our actions, but its too late,
careful you’re about to come to the end of
this article and you need to look away now.
In the 60’s, yes I know that was before real
life existed and there was no internet or mobile phones how did we manage – the two
most dangerous words in the language were
Atomic Bomb nowadays its Health and Safety, our new best friend Elfin.

The Dorset Lesbian and Gay Helping is
looking for volunteers.
The helpline, which offers confidential
help and support for LGBT people and
parents, friends of gay people, through
its telephone helpline from 7.30pm to
9.30pm on Monday, Wednesday &
Thursday, always needs more help.
If you are local to the Bournemouth
area and if you can associate with
the issues of lesbian and gay people and feel that you would like to
give back to the community,
then the team would like to
hear from you.
“We supply full training and support to all
our volunteers and
we have volunteers
who are able to give
varying levels of commitment,” they say. “If you
believe you are someone
with a listening ear, who
does not judge people and
you want to help people
come to understand their
sexuality, then we need your
help”.
Contact us in confidence on
0845 388 3544 or email:
volunteers@dorsetgayhelpline.org and we
will take it from there.

QThe Dinner Ladies
Social group for gay women
living in the Southsea and
Portsmouth areas.

www.dorsetgayhelpline.org

trans Community Development. Thinking of starting up
a group? Call Paul or Vicky on
01392 201012.
QMetropolitan Community
Church
All inclusive, diversity embracing church. Every Sunday 11am, MCC, Hannington
Road, Bournemouth BH7 6JT.

www.scbearsbournemouth.org.uk

QLesbian and Gay Christian
Movement
Bi-weekly meeting in Southampton for religious discussion and social interaction.
Every second Wednesday.
02380 581536.
QLynx South West
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and

QSpace Youth Project
Group for young LGBT people. Meetings in Bournemouth,
Poole and Weymouth.
www.spaceyouthproject.co.uk

QWestern Boys
Group offering guidance and
support for all female to male
(FTM) identified people.
www.westernboys.org

one80community listings
Free to non-profit organisations that offer help, advice or a service to the LGBT community.
If you would like to add your listings to this page please send to info@one80news.com
one week prior to publication date.

(Mar21/Apr20) You’re more restless than usual and feeling fed up with the same old routines, but be
careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water in your enthusiasm to make root and branch changes. Think
before you make any dramatic or drastic decisions. Money from an inheritance or generous relative could help you
deal with complex financial issues that have been getting you down recently.

TAURUS

WIN!
kylie in your living room*

(*on dvd!)

(May22/Jun21) Getting a grip on life can take many forms. From shedding a few pounds with diet and
exercise and making radical changes to things at home to changing jobs or taking up a whole new career. Now’s the

YES, PRIDE SEASON IS in full swing and yes, Kylie records are polluting the ears of gay boys and girls
nationwide and yes, gays tend to love Kylie and yes, we heart Kylie too, so we’re giving away ten copies of
William Baker’s beautifully filmed personal portrait of the lady herself.
White Diamond follows our Kyles as she embarks on the hugely successful Showgirl tour, only to be hit by
tragedy when she is diagnosed with breast cancer on 17 May 2005, forcing her to cancel all remaining dates.
What ensues is Kylie’s battle to regain health and finish the tour that was so ‘rudely’ interrupted.
Baker’s access all areas footage reveals Kylie in the dressing room both before and after her spectacular arena shows, meeting fans and working on designing a leopard print catsuit for the tour with Dolce & Gabbana.

time to swing into action. You’re about to renew your interest in people and activities that used to fill you with joy and
happiness. Re-connect with the past to find future pleasure and fulfilment.

To be in with a chance of winning one of ten copies of White Diamond on DVD, simply answer this
Kylie-related question:

(Jun22/Jul23) A surge of creative energy helps you take time out to work on a pet project. You get
more satisfaction from writing, painting, and music than you do from work or family. Friends and relatives may feel
miffed by your behaviour, but that can’t be helped. You should jump at the chance to work alongside or travel or study
with someone who is an expert in their field or someone else could pip you at the post.

CANCER

What colour are Kylie Minogue’s eyes?

LEO

White Diamond is out on DVD now.

(Apr21/May21) Making money is a top priority. You hate venturing out of your comfort zone, but it’s
more and more obvious you need to do so. If it means learning a new skill or trying your hand in a different industry
go for it now. An influential friend can help you make some changes that will bring future prosperity if you’re prepared
to make a break with the old ways of doing things and follow new trends.

GEMINI

?FIFJ:FG<J9P

(Jul24/Aug23) If you’re looking for an escape route from a stressed out world of hustle and bustle you need
look no further than your own fireside. Settle down for a few quiet times with your nearest and dearest inside your
own four walls and take time out to chill out. This is a good time to play your cards close to your chest and not let all
and sundry what you think or feel. Bring a plan to perfection in secret and then launch it.

a)
b)
c)

Blue
Red
Rainbow striped

VIRGO

(Aug24/Sep23) You could quite easily take the lead at work or be in the vanguard of a community campaign. People are looking to you for leadership, so don’t be shy about asserting yourself. If you’re aiming to change
things for the better now’s the time to get things moving. You can create your own good fortune by seizing the initiative and making the most of any opportunity to share your ideas with others.

LIBRA (Sep24/Oct23) Different faiths and philosophies have a fresh appeal to you now so why not explore the
views and values of others by meeting people from various creeds and cultures or researching on the internet or at
the library? It will widen your horizons. Being willing to take on an unusual professional project could put you on the
path to a brand new career. A talent for executive leadership may be uncovered.

SCORPIO

(Oct24/Nov22) Be careful what you wish for. Right now you have a way of moulding events to

your liking and twisting people around your little finger. But could it be a two-edged sword? So long as you don’t hurt
anyone and are up front, honest and honourable all will be well. A long running legal matter could be decided in your
favour helping you ditch a burden of care and concern and take a well earned break.

(Nov23/Dec21) It’s time to even the score with anyone who has not been taking your
thoughts and feelings into account when making important decisions at home or at work. Stand up for what you know

This prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. Usual one80news ltd conditions apply
(available on request). Entrants must be 18 years old or above.
The closing date for this competition is Mon 3 August 2009..

is important and they’ll stop taking you for granted. A good job offer could come your way very soon but be prepared
for some power struggles with your boss because neither of you will want to give ground.

CAPRICORN

(Dec22/Jan20) Not everyone will immediately recognise your abilities so be patient with people who seem blind to your talents. It won’t do any good climbing on your high horse so just bide your time and wait
for your chance to set the record straight. Time spent alone or with those you love and care for gives you a chance

to unwind and enjoy just being yourself in gentle, comfortable and comforting surroundings.

AQUARIUS (Jan21/Feb19) With your popularity rising to new all time high levels you mustn’t be surprised to

find yourself showered with offers and opportunities. From a new career or money making option to more romantic

possibilities you’ll enjoy being in the limelight. You might discover a new skill or talent that could be the genesis of a
professional project or personal plan that will set the seal of success on your future.

PISCES (Feb20/Mar20) Stand up for yourself against anyone who tries to bully and browbeat you into submission. If you give way now it will be harder to speak up for your beliefs in times to come. Be especially assertive when
it comes to negotiating prices or wages. Driving a hard bargain will work in your favour and bring you to the attention
of someone who will turn out to be a loyal and trusted friend

Complete the grids so that every row, column, 3x3
box contain just the digits 1 to 9.

Complete the grids so that every row, column, 3x3
box contain just the digits 1 to 9. Number indicates
total of dotted box

www.marblemediapublishing.com30

Page 30

fe\/'nosh
Tony V
Ventana BrasserieBournemouth

Beachcomber CaféGreenwich

Café BellaBrighton

WHEN VISITING BOURNEMOUTH, Be sure to treat yourself
to a meal at the stylish Ventana Brasserie and Bar at The Cumberland.
The menu at Ventana ranges from light appetizers to healthy
salads and delicious fresh seafood. With both indoor or patio
dining, relaxing atmosphere and attentive staff, eating here was
a real pleasure – aided by the company of a friend visiting from
Australia.
Our female companion ate light (watching her figure?). She
went for a Chicken Caesar Salad made from locally sourced produce. The freshness of her dish was complemented by the size
of the portion. My choice was the Peppered Fillet of Salmon,
served with vodka, lime and chilli salsa, all atop a bed of green
pea mash. I’m not usually keen on mashed potato, but the peas
were an interesting twist and I augmented it with an additional
order of the salsa. My unadventurous partner thoroughly enjoyed his chargrilled steak, but he just loves a bit of meat. The
accompanying Bearnaise sauce (a lovely combination of egg
yolks, lemon juice, butter, shallots, herbs and a careful seasoning) was excellent.
There wasn’t much room for dessert – but we shared a combination of bread-and-butter pudding, raspberry cheesecake and
white chocolate mousse. And Bailey’s!
The price range is reasonable, salads cost from £7.95 and on
average main course are around £14. Desserts are £4.95. Relaxation and service are priceless.

SITUATED AT THE ENTRANCE TO the markets in Greenwich, from the outside The Beachcomber Seafood Café
looks like nothing out of the ordinary. However, the food
served inside far exceeds expectations and this is due to
the chefs – from Albania, Italy and Poland – whose expertise provides a combination of their national seafood
cuisine and proves a piece de resistance.
Three of us spent a happily relaxed afternoon, enjoying
seafood cooked to perfection and pampered by friendly
service.
We shared a starter – a plate made up from scallops,
lobster, calamari, kind prawns and scampi. Costing £6.95,
there was ample for all of us but as Aussies and lovers of
seafood we added a dish of battered calamari (the best
I’ve encountered since I’ve been in Britain) and half-dozen
fresh oysters.
Our Aussie guest plumped for the fresh Scotch salmon,
grilled and served with a parsley sauce and was more than
happy with her choice. My partner ordered the Lobster Thermidor, flamed in a brandy and white wine cheese sauce.
The lobster was a good 20oz and served with sautéed potatoes and a selection of seasonal veggies. I decided to try
the Surf and Turf, consisting of an 8oz sirloin steak, cooked
to perfection, and a 12oz lobster. It should be pointed out
that The Beachcomber Seafood Café source their provisions daily and it is all cooked freshly on the premises.
The reckoning for the three of us (including a good Pinot
Grigio and a very drinkable red Bordeaux) was £140 (including gratuity) – but we had a terrific afternoon and I’d
heartily recommend this venue.

Ventana Brasserie and Bar at
The Cumberland Hotel

The Beachcomber Seafood Café

Café Bella

34 Greenwich Church Street, London, SE10 9BL
Tel: 0871 4746626

120 St. James’s Street, Brighton, BN2 1TH
Tel: 01273 623485

East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth, BH1 3AF. Tel: 01202 290722

A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS, OWNED by brothers and with
mum helping out, Café Bella offers a wide variety of English
and Italian dishes and is a firm favourite with Brighton residents and visitors alike. Located in busy St James’s Street,
the venue has seating inside and out and is a perfect place
to watch the LGBT world meander past.
I ordered a good size old-fashioned English Mixed Grill
and the size of the serving was such that I found myself
regretting the breakfast I’d had earlier. The grill comprised
choice pieces of chicken, gammon and steak with grilled
tomatoes, mushrooms and fried potatoes. The size of the
service was impressive and it was remarkably good value.
My partner had his usual steak. He was happy with the
size and tenderness of the cut, served with loads of chips
and a side salad. He tucked in with gusto and had no complaints.
The brothers make a mean coffee and have some great
lunchtime specials for two or three courses. If you’re a local
or a visitor in for Pride, stop by and tell them 3SIXTY sent
you and well line your stomach before the party.

ST

one & two bedroom
apartments
from £179,950
BEAC
ONSF

PR

TO

RO
AD

ROAD

ON
ND
LO

N

BUCKINGHAM PLACE

One Brighton
Marketing
Suite
D

AD
RO

P

T
DS
T ST
AN
FLEE
GL
D
OA
EN
YR
LE
UD
O
TR

S

EW

A270

DITCHLING
ROA

N

One way to live the real Brighton

IELD

ES

E

G RIS

HIN
DITC

Brighton
Station

CHEAPSID

ER P

DE

EST

PAR
A

UC

ND

GLO
RCH

GRA

CHU

A23

L

EY ST
REET
SYDN

OAD
NS R
QUEE

REET

RICHMOND PLAC
E

GAR ST

SURR
EY

AD
DYKE RO

YORK PLACE

STREET

E

TRAFAL

STR

EET

A joint venture development by
Crest Nicholson and BioRegional Quintain.
Digital illustration depicts One Brighton.
Prices correct at time of printing.

Apartments a stone’s throw from Brighton rail station
One Brighton comprises an inspiring, design
led collection of one & two bedroom
apartments that form Brighton’s first zero
carbon new homes development.

To make your appointment
to view the Show Apartment,
call today on 0870 752 1820

These contemporary and environmentally
sound apartments are situated close to the
train station, making One Brighton perfect
for commuters, as well as those working
in the heart of the city itself. With a host of
shops, restaurants, clubs and bars on your
doorstep, the convenience of One Brighton
can not be overstated!